Buckle



June 13, 1950 H, F, GEORGE 2,511,579

BUCKLE Filed Feb. 3, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l lllllllllllllllllllllll11111111 H. F. GEORGE June 13, 1.950

BUCKLE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 3, 1945 Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A j BUCKLE y y HarryF. George, Chicago, Ill. Appucaucn February a, 1945, serial No. 575,947 1 claim.' (c1. 24-1'71) This invention relates to a buckle for securing together parts of a belt, strap'or the likeand more particularly to such buckle having means for quick and easy release.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a buckle so constructed .as to be positive and eiiicient in operation, quick and easy to release, pleasing in appearance, and economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a buckle having gripping jaws that may be moved toward and by an easy longitudinal pullon the belt, strap or the like.

A further object is to Aprovide a buckle having novel latch means for moving said jaws toward and away from eachother for gripping and releasing the belt, strap or the like.

A still further object is to provide a buckle having upper and lower plates to which the gripping jaws are slidably 'mounted to increase the gripping action when an outward longitudinal pull is applied to the belt, strap or the like.

Another object is to provide a buckle having novel means for mounting and operating the plates and jaws, one of said plates having opening and closing as well as horizontal movement -during operation. Y r

A further object is to provide a buckle having latch means so positioned as to bel instantly available and accessible `for quick release of the belt, strap or the like for safety purposes for instant opening of the gripping means to release an occupant of an aircraft for a quick parachute jump, escape from a burning plane, and other emergencies requiring a rquick release for individuals wearing a safety belt or the like.

A further object is to provide a buckle adapted for any general use where a belt, strap' or the like is used for holding parts'together. y

Other objects, advantages and capabilities inherently possessed by my inventionl will later more fully appear. l

My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment I wish it understood that the same is ,susceptible of modication and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

\ fFigL- 4 is a vertical longitudinal section In the drawings:

Fig.' 1 is a side elevation of a buckle embodying my invention, and showingthe latch plate in closed position.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking toward the righthand encl of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the latch plate in open position.

Ion the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the latch plate in open position.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of my buckle applied to `a belt, strap or the like with the clamping plate in open position and the gripping parts moved away from each other Afor instant release of the belt, strap or the like. 1

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the upper clamping plate.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of thelower clamping plate.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective View of the latch plate partly in section for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 11 is a disassembled perspective view of the latch plate operating disc and its crank pin.

Hereinafter, in this specication, the term strap will be used to indicate generally a belt, strap or any other elongated part or parts to which my improved buckle willbe applied for e gripping and holding them together. Such strap may be a belt worn by an aviator and requiring quick release for parachute `or other releasepurposes, or an ordinary belt, or a trunk strap, or any other elongated member to which my buckle is adaptable for holding parts together.

My improved buckle comprises an upper plate l `and `a lower plate 2 shown in perspective in Figs; 8 and 9. Formed along longitudinal side edges of plate I are flanges 3` and 4, While similarly formed along the longitudinal side edge of plate 2 are flanges 5 and E5.V Each of the yside flanges 5 and 6 are formed with a circular opening 1 near their rear end, while-each of thefront end` portions of these anges is formed with an angularly extending slot 8, this slot extending downwardly and forwardly as shown in Fig. 9. Formed in the rear edge portion of bottom plate 2 is a transversely extending slot 9l through which is adapted to extend an end portion l 0 of a strap Il, the end portion I0 being secured to the strap ll by any suitable meanssuch as-Krivets or the like I2 to firmly secure the strap I I to the bottom plate 2.

Slidably mounted on the upper face of bottom plate 2 is a jaw member I3 having a ribbed, irregular, or other gripping surface I4 to aid in holding the strap when in gripped position. Jaw member I3 is slidably mounted between flanges 5 and 6 by means of a headed screw member I5 or other suitable means, passing through the slot I6, thehead of member I5 being of greater diameter than the widthl of slot I6, which construction enables the gripping jaw I3 to have a limited longitudinal sliding movement with relation to the bottom plate 2 as clearly understood in Figs. 4 and 5. The upper plate I is provided with a slot I'I to slidably receive a headed screw mem-ber I8 for slidably mounting an upper gripping jaw I9 to the upper plate I in a manner similar to that described in connection with bottom plate 2v and gripping jaw I3.

Each of the side ilanges 3 and 4y of upper plate Iy arev formedat their forward portion with a hole 2 0 and atv their rearend portion with a hole 2I. Mounted in each of the front holes of the top plate I is a short pin` having on its inner end an enlarged head 22, this pin, when the parts are assembled, also extending through the inclined slot 8 and having on its outer end an enlarged head 23, and a washer 23', to enable this short pin to slide back and forth in angular slot 8 when the upper plate is moved longitudinally with relation with the lower plate. As will be understood, when upper plate I is moved forwardly (to the left as viewed in Fig. 5) the short pin, moving in slot 8, will cause the front ends of plate I and 2 to move toward each other, while movement in the opposite direction will cause them to move away from each other relatively.

As seen in Fig. 6 flanges 3, 4, 5 and 6 of thev upper and lower plates are positioned close together in overlapping longitudinal sliding relationship with each other. Latch plate 24 is formed at its forward end with a curved portion 25 to enable it to be easily and quickly grasped by the ngers of the operator, and at its side portions with flanges 26 and 2l which taper in width and at their rear ends are each formed with an ear 28 having a noncircular hole `23 therethrough. Positioned on the inside of each of ears 28 is a disc 30 so mounted as to rotate with the latch plate. Disc 30 is mounted in opening 1 (one on each side) to have rotation therein when the latch plate 24 is rotated. Eccentrically formed in discl 38 is a noncircular hole 32 (it being shown square for illustrative purposes only) so that when the parts are assembled in operative position the noncircular portion 33 of pin 34 will be positioned in each of noncircular Openings 29 and 32 so that rotation of latch plate 24 will also cause rotation of disc k38. Pin 34 is also provided with a cylindrical portion 35 mounted for rotation in hole 2| of upper plate I when the latch plate is rotated. Pin 34 is formed on its inner end with a head 36 and after being inserted through openings 32 and 29 will have its outer en d riveted over or otherwise formedto provide a head 31 on the outside of the latch plate ear 28.

Positioned between head 31 and latch plate 24 is a washer a having one or more projections b (two being shown for illustration) extending from the inner face and projecting into complemental depression c in the outer face of the latch plate ear 28 as seen in Fig. 6. This further secures the latch plate, square shaft and disc 30 against strain when -being rotated together.

Due to noncircular hole 32 being positioned eccentrically in disc 30 rotation of this disc will cause the pin 34 to act as a crank pin to move the upper plate longitudinally with relation to the lower plate, and at the same time cause the rear end of the upper plate to move in the arc of a circle while the front end of the upper plate moves angularly by reason of the pin 23 extending through the angular slot 8. The construction in this regard is the same in both of ears 28, disc 3|) and pin 34 and hence needv only be described once, it being understood that the same operation takes place with both of the ears 28 regarding longitudinal movement of upper plate I.

The side flanges of both the upper and lower plates are preferably wider at their rear ends than at their front en ds although they may be oi other shapes without departing from the spirit of my invention (including being parallel if desired). Side anges 5 and 6 of bottom plate 2 at their rear ends` are each formed With the stop 38 t0 cooperate with a SiIrlilarfstop 38 on the ear28 to limitk the backward movement of latch plate 24 as will be understood in Figs. 3, 5, and 7. The latch plate when moved t0 its forward limit of rotation will strike against the upper plate as shown in Fig. 4.

From the abovev it will be understood that when the buckle is in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. the latch plate 24 may be swung from its closed position vto the open position4 shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7. 'Due to the eccentricity of pin 34 inA disc 30 this upward rotational movement of the latch plate will carry the yupper plate rearwardly and at the same time away from the lower plate soas to open the gripping faces of jaws I3 and I 9. With the latch standing in the position shown in Fig.r 5 and w-ithtlie rear end of the strap II fixed to the lower plate as shown in Fig. 7, the end l40 of the strap mayy be passed throughvthe space 4I between the jaws as far as desired, and when the strap has been tightened to the desired degree around the object towhich it is applied, the latch plate 24 will then be moved downwardly to the position shown inFig. 4 vwhich will move the gripping face of jaws I3,v I9 against the strap to tightly clamp the same within the buckle. A longitudinal pull 0n the vStrap gripped between these two jaws will, due to the slidable pins I5 and I8,v in slots I5, I'l, cause the gripping jaws to havea tendency to f -urther move toward each other because of the inclination of the upper plate with relation to the lower plate and thus further more tightly grip the strap in the buckle. This longitudinal movement of `the upper jaw will enable an effective gripping of the strap between the jaws withoutinjuringthe strap. As will be understood the opening and closing of the rear ends of the'upper and lower plates and jaws will be due to the eccentricity of pin 34 with relation to disc 30.- Fig. l shows pin 34 as having been moved forwardly and downwardly tomove the plates and jaws toward each other, while Fig. 5 shows this pin as having been swung upwardly and rearwardly on an arcof a circle so as to move the rear end of the upper and lower plates and jaws awayA lfrom each other. This rearward movement of the upper plate will, due to the inclinedslots 8. and the pin of the upper plate slidable therein, cause the front end of upper plate I and the front end of jaw I9 to move upwardly away from the lower plate thus opening the space 4I through whichthe strap slides'.

The arrangement of the ends of the 'strap may be varied as desired, for example-the strap may be in two parts, one end of one part fastened to the buckle and the other end of the same part fastened to a seat, and the rear end of the other part of the strap fastened to the other side of the seat with the free end of the strap passed through the buckle, as will be understood in Fig. 7, when used in connection with an airplane so that when the buckle is tightened the passenger will be secured in the seat, and when desiring to get out of the seat to make a parachute leap, or for any other purpose, he may be instantly released from the seat by merely easily swinging the latch plate 24 from the position shown in Fig., 4 to that shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7, which instantly releases the strap. Or if desired, the strap, instead of being in two parts, may be a single belt to pass around the waist of the wearer. which belt may be tightened or loosened by swinging latch plate 24 to the tightened or released position. Also this buckle can be used in connection with straps for fastening a trunk, or any other parts which are desired to be secured together.

As seen in Fig. 6 each of the discs 30 is rotatable in one of the holes 1 in the flanges of the lower plate by the swinging action of the latch plate, and because of the eccentric mounting of the pin 34 in disc 30, the pin 34 acts as a crank pin to cause movement of the upper plate when the latch plate is swung. The flangesof the lower plate are respectively positioned between the flanges of the upper plate and the ears 0f the latch plate.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A buckle comprising a rst plate and a second plate connected for longitudinal movement with relation to each other, means at one end portion of said plates for longitudinally moving one plate with relation to the other and at the same time moving the plates closer together. means at the other end portion of said plates for simultaneously moving them relatively toward each other as one is moved longitudinally, said rst mentioned means comprising a latch plate rotatably mounted in said first and second plates, said latch plate. having a concentric portion mounted in one of said rst and second plates and an eccentric portion mounted in the other one, each of said first and second plates having a gripping jaw slidably mounted on its inner face, and said first and second plates being at all times positioned at an angle to each other so that as said gripping jaws slide longitudinally on the respective inner faces of the first and second plates said jaws will move toward and away from each other independently of the means for moving the last mentioned plates depending upon the direction of movement.

HARRY F. GEORGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 37,678 C'owles Feb. 17, 1863 207,469 Wolf Aug. 27, 1878 679,336 Purcell July 30, 1901 894,975 Mystrom Aug. 4, 1908 928,367 De Witt July 20, 1909 1,139,036 Humphrey May 11, 1915 1,391,879 Chester Sept. 27, 1921 1,701,060 Armbrust Feb. 5, 1929 2,013,912 Green Sept. 10, 1935 2,212,837 Kraft et al Aug. 27, 1940 2,240,460 Oliver Apr. 29, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Germany June 1l, 1928 

